The National Resources Defense Council recently released its annual report examining the percentage of personal income spent by drivers on gasoline, as well as measures each of the 50 states are taking to reduce oil dependency.
According to the report, Utah ranks 13th in states whose citizens face the highest degree of gasoline price vulnerability, with drivers spending around 7.02 percent or $2,373 of their personal income on gasoline in 2011. That is a jump from 5.19 percent in 2010 and 4.76 percent in 2009.
Mississippi stands as the state most vulnerable to gasoline prices, with the average driver spending 8.98 percent of his or her personal income on gasoline. Connecticut came in last at 3.51 percent.
Drivers in every state were more vulnerable in 2011 than in 2010, the report said, and drivers in all but eight states were more vulnerable in 2011 than they were in 2008.
Additional information in the report suggests that states like California, Oregon and Washington are doing the most to reduce the use of oil, while states like Nebraska, Alaska and Mississippi are doing the least.
Read the report here.

Alabama

Associated Press

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2011: 6.89% ($2,389)

State rank: 15

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2009: 3.87%

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2006: 5.03%

>> Gary Likely puts $30 worth of gas into his tank while filling up Thursday afternoon, Aug. 11, 2005, at The Food Mart in Georgiana, Ala.

Alaska

Associated Press

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2011: 5.27% ($2,398)

State rank: 39

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2009: 3.45%

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2006: 3.55%

State policies: 43rd in transit spending prioritization ranking.

>> Pete Slaiby, vice president of Shell Oil Alaska, lower right, joins others on a tour of the arctic oil drilling rig "Kulluk," Friday, May 25, 2012, as it undergoes extensive work at Vigor Shipyards in Seattle.

Arizona

Associated Press

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2011: 5.90% ($2,118)

State rank: 27

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2009: 3.65%

Percent of income spent on gasoline by the average driver, 2006: 5.28%